[715] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. Now on that occasion the group-of-six bhikkhus, having engaged in misconduct, would protest whenever a formal act (kamma) was being carried out against each one of them. Now on that occasion the Saṅgha had assembled on some business or other. The group-of-six bhikkhus, being occupied with making robes, gave their consent (chanda) through one bhikkhu. Then the Saṅgha, saying, "Friends, this group-of-six bhikkhu has come alone; come now, let us carry out a formal act against him," carried out a formal act against him.
Then that bhikkhu approached the group-of-six bhikkhus. The group-of-six bhikkhus said to that bhikkhu, "Friend, what did the Saṅgha do?" "Friends, the Saṅgha carried out a formal act against me." "Friend, we did not give consent for this purpose — that it would carry out a formal act against you. If we had known, 'It will carry out a formal act against you,' we would not have given consent."
Those bhikkhus who were of few wishes … criticized, denounced, and spread it about, saying, "How can the group-of-six bhikkhus, having given consent for legitimate formal acts, afterward fall into complaining?" … "Is it true, as they say, bhikkhus, that you, having given consent for legitimate formal acts, afterward fell into complaining?" "It is true, Blessed One." The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them: "How can you, foolish men, having given consent for legitimate formal acts, afterward fall into complaining? This, foolish men, is not for the confidence of those without confidence, nor for the increase of those already confident …
"And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule:
"Should any bhikkhu, having given consent for legitimate formal acts, afterward fall into complaining, there is an offense of pācittiya."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.